Will Rihanna Answer the Call: Serena Williams’ Husband Invites Pop Icon to Athlos for an Olympian’s Dream Moment

“I’m such a massive Rihanna fan. I’m so happy that she is doing the Super Bowl,” Remember when Serena Williams told ‘Essence Magazine’ how excited she was for Rihanna’s comeback? Well, time and again, Serena and her beloved, Alexis Ohanian, have shown love for the pop icon, whether it was her ‘Super Bowl LVII’ performance or Lift Me Up, honoring late actor Chadwick Boseman. But now, the tables have turned! Alexis has a request for Rihanna: one that could fulfill an Olympian’s dream at the upcoming Athlos event. What’s that?

Athlos NYC, now entering its 2nd year, is a groundbreaking professional track and field series exclusively for women in the USA, founded by Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. Launched to elevate women’s athletics beyond the Olympic spotlight, the inaugural event took place on September 26, 2024, at New York’s Icahn Stadium, which caught massive attention throughout the athletics genre.

Athlos NYC was originally introduced as the ‘776 Invitational’ in April 2024, drawing inspiration from the rise of ‘Angel City FC’ and the need for consistent, high-profile women’s track and field competitions in the USA. Thirty-six elite athletes, including Gabby Thomas, Alexis Holmes, and Faith Kipyegon, participated in the six races of the 2024 edition: the 100m, 100m hurdles, 200m, 400m, 800m, and 1500m. The substantial prize purse awarded $60,000 to the first-place winner, with even sixth place receiving $2,500, thereby establishing a new benchmark for women’s track competitions. 

Now gearing up for the second edition of the event, the 23-year-old athlete Grace Stark, who finished fifth in the 100m hurdles at the 2024 Paris Olympics, expressed her wish to see a Rihanna concert at the Athlos 2025.  

Ohanian recently shared an interview clip of Grace Stark, where she was talking to Katelyn Hutchison. When asked, “What’s one artist you would love to see perform at Athlos?” Stark instantly replied, “Rihanna!” And sharing the video, Ohanian stated, “🏃‍♀️ @athlos — The fastest women on the planet. The biggest purse prize in history. And an iconic musical guest TBD…. OK, @badgalriri — ATHLOS 2025 — what do you say?! 👀”

The inaugural Athlos NYC event in 2024 was electric, featuring a high-energy performance by ‘Megan Thee Stallion’ after the races. Throughout the competition, DJ ‘D-Nice’ kept the atmosphere alive with his music, making it a perfect blend of sports and entertainment. Not just Rihanna, recently Athlos founder Alexis Ohanian also revealed his desire to bring Hollywood star Zendaya to Athlos 2025, hinting at an exciting crossover between sports and entertainment for the fans.“First step is getting Zendaya to ATHLOS 2025… @zoe__hobbs I gotchu,” he wrote on X.

And, the list keeps growing as Ohanian has also expressed his desire to bring an American tennis pro to Athlos 2025: someone who has not only dominated the tennis world from a young age but also has deep roots in track and field.

“Got a spot waiting for you” — Alexis Ohanian backs Coco Gauff to participate in Athlos 25

Bringing stars from different genres to a tournament is a game-changer, drawing in fans from all corners and boosting its impact, and no one understands that better than Alexis Ohanian. Just days ago, Athlos’ official X account shared a video of ‘New Zealand’ track star “Zoe Hobbs”, who admitted she’d be “startled” to meet a certain 20-year-old athlete in person. And who made sure to repost it? None other than Ohanian himself.

“Someone who would startle me if I came across them would be Coco Gauff. I’ve recently become quite a new fan of tennis, so I was fortunate to go to the ASB Classic in New Zealand. And I was just so impressed with the power that they have. To see them actually play in person is so different to seeing them on TV, and Coco, being one of the best in the world, I think it would be awesome to meet her,” Hobbs said. And, as soon as the post went online, Alexis added his views, stating, “I got a spot waiting for you in a trackside suite @CocoGauff 💪 ATHLOS 25.”

Coco’s incredible speed is a family trait, inherited from her mother, Candi, who was a track and field athlete at Florida State University, and her father, Corey, who played college basketball at Georgia State. Growing up, Gauff participated in various sports, including basketball and track, before ultimately deciding to focus on tennis. However, she never stopped running!

Known for her explosive speed on the court, Coco often reflects on her track and field background and wonders how she might have performed had she chosen to pursue that sport professionally.

Nonetheless, as the days approach for the second edition of Athlos, do you think Rihanna will accept Ohanian’s invitation?